Chrysler is taking a page out of Ford’s playbook and will surprise and delight Japan with their “latest version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle, which features Chrysler’s new Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine,” if The Nikkei [sub] is not mistaken.

Chrysler Japan has hopes for the new Grand Cherokee that was just release in the U.S. As a nod to the thrifty and CO2 conscious Japanese, Chrysler points out that the Pentastar V6, gives the Grand Cherokee boasts 30 percent better fuel economy than the existing Grand Cherokee with a 4.7-liter V-8 engine. Overabundant horsepower will be sacrificed.

According to the Nikkei, “Chrysler Group plans to switch to the new engine in other models that now use other V-6 engines, and Chrysler Japan will release these vehicles here as they become available.”

Chrysler Japan has boutique status in Japan. Their sales in 2009 were around 1,800. Says the Nikkei: “By emphasizing the Jeep brand, Chrysler Japan aims to boost overall sales to the 5,000-unit level in 2014.” Audacious plans.

4×4’s are pretty darned popular in Japan. The Safari (Patrol), Terrano (Pathfinder), Surf (4-Runnder), and Landcruiser all flood into NZ as used imports. From my feel they’re sold in Japan on the “lifestyle” concept, similar to most of the rest of the developed world where they never go off-road.

“Indian Reservation”
Words and Music by John D. Loudermilk
performed by Paul Revere and the Raiders

They took the whole Cherokee nation
Put us on this reservation
Took away our ways of life
The tomahawk and the bow and knife
Took away our native tongue
And taught their English to our young
And all the beads we made by hand
Are nowadays made in Japan

Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
So proud to live, so proud to die

They took the whole Indian nation
Locked us on this reservation
Though I wear a shirt and tie
I’m still part redman deep inside

Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
So proud to live, so proud to die

But maybe someday when they learn
Cherokee nation will return, [repeat and fade]…

*’Cherokee’ is Creek* for ‘people with another language’.
White settlers named the Creek Indians after Ocmulgee Creek in Georgia. They originally called themselves Isti or Istichata, but began to identify themselves as Muskogee soon after Europeans arrived.
http://www.native-languages.org/cherokee.htm

Sales of 5,000 won’t mean that they are conquering the market. Trophy sales.
I think I read elsewhere that the Grand Cherokee won’t have a right-hand drive version? This will also not enhance its sales. They drive on the left in Japan.

I think it is sort of a status symbol to drive an American or German car in Japan, at least it seemed so from my experience there. Just like it is a cool to drive a RHD Skyline in the US. LHD and all is part of the appeal.

But there are few buyers looking for that sort of experience and the headaches in service and running cost that come with it. This is not a practical product for Japanese consumers.

American cars a status symbol in Japan? When were you there? After WW 2 ?

Currently, BMW’s and Porsches are a status symbol. Alfas and Maserati have a small, dedicated following. Big Mercedes, especially black, are driven by heavily tattooed people who have the pinky cut off (aka the Yakuza) Sure, weird stuff like the Astro Van have a car otaku cult following. Overall, U.S. cars are sneered at in the land of Nippon. Annual sales around 10K.

I’m surprised at 1800 sales, honestly I am. Freaking Nitros are everywhere in Tokyo. I think they drive more Liberties and Nitros than Suburbans and Hummers put together. At first I took pictures in surprise but it was useless: too many. Maybe their sales nosedived in the recent years.